DJ Denvo delves into the art of mixing with Reach Academy students Zachary Harrison (left) and Connor Weston (centre) - both 10 years old  and seven-year old Suhavi Kumar during a recent weekly Kids Mix DJ Club at the school.

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Popular FAME 95 FM disc jockey Denvo 'DJ Denvo' Thombs has launched an extra-curricular academic programme dubbed the Kids Mix DJ Club, for students attending local primary and secondary institutions across the island.

According to DJ Denvo, the Kids Mix DJ Club is an ideal programme for institutions that are focused on exposing students to non-traditional career opportunities and hobbies.

"We are pitching the programme to schools which have already introduced a new-age syllabus ... schools that are in search of something different and new; creative ways to get students excited about learning," shares Denvo.

The Kids Mix DJ Club forms part of the offerings of Thombs' Dub Jamaica DJ Academy, formed in 2013. He is also credited for the creation of the syllabus for the Music Technology DJ Programme, now available at the infamous Alpha Institute.

The extra-curricular programme is a weekly one-hour activity, which has already started in prep schools, namely, Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School and Reach Academy in Kingston.

Vanessa Khouri Salazar, principal at Reach Academy, is pleased to have introduced a new adventure to her students.

"We always try to think outside the box, and honestly, we didn't have to do much thinking here. Our parents are very excited about the DJ club. So now, the kids are exposed to seeing new careers and realising that what they hear on the radiois actually a skill set. Now they [children] are open to hearing about new careers, and not just the same lawyer or doctor. It's okay to be anything, and now they have another avenue to choose from," explains Salazar.

IGNITING CREATIVITY

As a father of three, DJ Denvo remains steadfast in his views on including trades and the arts as essential methods to engage the minds of youngsters, ignite creativity, and provide alternate career options in a constantly changing global marketplace.

"People are not aware of how technology can help with their children's development," says Denvo.

Denvo goes further to explain that "as DJs, we play in sets, and the Kids Mix DJ Club operates in accordance with our meaning, underscored by the acronym SETS: structure, expression, team building and self-confidence. So our aim is to expose kids to how they can actually use the skill of a DJ to develop these qualities within themselves."